Line Shear Element for Waste Processing Machine Safety

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional waste processing machines, such as wood chippers, pose safety risks due to the potential entanglement and rapid retraction of lines, cables, or ropes with the rotating disc, which can cause injury or damage.

Innovation Solution

A safety device with line shear elements is integrated into the waste processing machine, positioned within the cutting chamber to safely shear and break entangled lines, cables, or ropes as they are caught by the rotating disc, preventing them from being pulled towards the machine.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If a rotating disc is used to reduce waste material, then productivity is improved, but lines or ropes may become entangled and cause safety hazards

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewaste material reduction efficiencyVSAvoidline entanglement and retraction hazard

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

A line shear element is introduced as an intermediary component between the rotating disc and the waste material intake. This shear element acts as a mediator that intercepts and shears lines or ropes before they can become entangled with the rotating disc, thereby eliminating the safety hazard while preserving the disc's waste reduction function

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention converts the potentially harmful entanglement of lines with the rotating disc into a beneficial shearing action. By positioning the line shear element to interact with lines that approach the disc, the system transforms the hazard of line entanglement into a controlled shearing mechanism that safely cuts lines before they can cause danger

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

2Productivity

If the rotating disc rotates at high speed to increase productivity, then waste material is reduced more quickly, but the risk of rapid line retraction increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvematerial reduction speedVSAvoidsafety reliability during operation

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The line shear element performs preliminary action by shearing lines or ropes before they can become entangled with the high-speed rotating disc. This preventive measure eliminates the risk of rapid line retraction that would otherwise occur at high rotational speeds, allowing the disc to operate at maximum speed safely

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Device complexity

If no line shear element is installed to maintain simple device structure, then manufacturing cost is reduced, but safety hazards from line entanglement occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecutting assembly structureVSAvoidline retraction and whipping hazard

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The cutting assembly is segmented into distinct functional components: the rotating disc for waste reduction and the separate line shear element for line interception. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function independently, adding safety functionality without significantly complicating the overall device structure

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The safety device effectively reduces the risk of injury and damage by quickly cutting and breaking entangled lines, ensuring safer operation and preventing unintended retraction into the cutting chamber.

Implementation Method 1

A line shear element is operatively attached to the housing, extends into the cutting chamber toward the axial surface of the disc, and is spaced from the cutting anvil for shearing lines caught by the rotating disc

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectShear stress: Shear Stress

Data Source

PatentUS10773260B2Waste processing machine safety device

Publication Date: 2020.09.15 BANDIT IND INC

AI summary

A waste processing machine for reducing waste material and having a safety device for shearing lines. A housing defines a cutting chamber and an intake opening in communication with the cutting chamber for receiving waste material. A disc is disposed in the cutting chamber, rotates about an axis, and has an axial surface facing the intake opening. A cutting member is fixed to the disc for revolution about the axis concurrent with rotation of the disc for reducing waste material. A cutting anvil is coupled to the housing adjacent to the intake opening and faces the axial surface of the disc for reducing waste material between the cutting anvil and the cutting member. A line shear element is attached to the housing, extends into the cutting chamber toward the axial surface of the disc, and is spaced from the cutting anvil for shearing lines caught by the rotating disc.